Q. Are there differences in performance between water-borne and solvent-borne construction adhesives?

A.Yes, solvent-based products tend to have a much faster curing rate, as well as a faster dry-down rate. They also have the ability to "wet out" some surfaces that a strictly water-borne product might not be capable of doing. An adhesive’s ability to wet out a surface is directly related to the ultimate performance of the glue line.

"Wetting out" is best explained using the analogy of waxing a car. If a car has been recently waxed, water will tend to bead on the surface. On the other hand, if it has been some time since a car has been waxed, water will form a film on the surface. At this point, the water is said to be wetting out the surface of the car.

It’s important to remember that most water-borne construction adhesives contain at least some percentage of solvent, which can often aid in their wetting ability.

— J.P.